SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 8, 2025) – Western New England women's volleyball first year
Charlei Henkel has picked up honors for the second straight week from the Conference of New England, again naming the Centerton, Arkansas native as the CNE women's volleyball Rookie of the Week.
Henkel continues to impress for the Golden Bears women's volleyball team this season, collecting double-figures in kills for the second time in her young career while hitting over .000% in every match again this week, making it seven matches in a row to begin her career with a positive hitting percentage. Henkel began the week with six kills over 20 attacks against SUNY Oswego to begin the Amherst College Fall Smash Tournament. Henkel also recorded a set assist, two service aces, a block, and 12 digs for the Golden Bears in the four-set match. On Saturday afternoon in a 3-0 sweep for WNE women's volleyball, the Golden Bears outside hitter notched seven more kills, hitting .148% from the floor while adding two set assists, three service aces, and 13 digs to her resume against Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Henkel ended the weekend's tournament against the hosting Mammoths of Amherst College with 11 kills and just two attacking errors over 29 total attacks, collecting a .310% hitting percentage overall for the match in four sets played. Henkel capped off the weekend with another set assist, a service ace, and 12 digs, finishing the weekend with 38 digs and 24 kills overall.
The Centerton, Arkansas native is now second on the team in total kills (54) over seven matches played and has collected 74 total points for WNE. Henkel has totaled 77 digs, a team-high 18 service aces, and added four blocks on the defensive side of the ball so far this season.
WNE women's volleyball will be on the road for one final contest before their home opnener this weekend, traveling to UMass-Boston on Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00 PM before hosting a tri-match with WPI and Keene State College, slated to begin on Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 AM.
